The expression “In Lak’ech” holds deep significance in Maya culture: it means “I am another you” or “You are another me,” embodying the idea that all people are connected. My portrait is an invitation to live this teaching every day.

In the piece, I portrayed my reflective gaze amidst a garden, a symbol of my inner world. There, I observe what nourishes me and what holds me back; it is the place where the intimate work of cultivating what benefits me begins, while removing the withered leaves to make way for new life.

Through this process, I have understood that if we want to be at peace with ourselves, we must care for our inner garden, because in doing so, we also care for the world around us. Only then can we live in true harmony.